Those nine turnovers were a season low. IU's 52 points in the paint were the product of relentless attacking offensively, from Yogi Ferrell (25 points) and his supporting cast in Indiana's backcourt.

IU's 10-point comeback was reminiscent of a similar first-half recovery at Penn State. This one took 5 1/2 minutes, as the Hoosiers scored 12 straight points to turn a 52-42 deficit into a lead.

And just as they had on the road last weekend, the Hoosiers proved tough enough to close, answering every Wisconsin punch. Indiana did not trail for the last 7:01 of its biggest win of the season.

"We have young guys, and getting those games that are very close, and the way that we clawed back … the more games that they have that are close like that, it definitely helps those guys," IU's Will Sheehey said.

Wisconsin, usually known for its methodical offense and stifling defense, was happy to play an up-and-down game Tuesday. The Badgers were equally clean, turning the ball over just 10 times. And they scored a devastatingly efficient 17 points from Indiana's nine turnovers.

As good as the Hoosiers looked digging themselves out of that 10-point hole in the second half, they were inept in falling into it.

After spurning several chances to take the lead late in the first half, IU started settling for jumpers early in the second. When it has done that this season, Indiana's offense has usually gone stale, and Tuesday was no exception.

But after Crean called a 30-second timeout to try and stem Wisconsin's run, Indiana went back to what worked.

Evan Gordon hit a short jumper. Sheehey followed with a layup, then Robinson hit another. The energy Crean had asked for pregame turned Assembly Hall into a madhouse.

Ryan called timeout after IU scored six straight, but his team still wouldn't score again for another 2 1/2 minutes. Indiana scored six more unanswered points, all of them in the paint.

Wisconsin couldn't keep the Hoosiers away from the rim, no matter what it did.

Ferrell led all scorers, driving to the basket at will. The sophomore hit just 1-of-8 3-pointers, but his lone make gave Indiana the game's final lead.

"If I had to make one three, I was glad it was that last one," Ferrell said.

Said Crean: "He was unguardable getting to the basket. … He's a big-game player."

When the final buzzer sounded, students stormed the floor piecemeal. College basketball's traditionalists scolded the sight on Twitter, but Crean had gotten what he wanted. He had to find his way out of a crowd that had given his young team spirit when it needed it most.

"Everybody was tired," Stanford Robinson said. "Just hearing that crowd go crazy like that, I know I got a lot of energy. I wasn't tired after that one."